Spring is here, and we can see the light at the end of the school year tunnel. Only a few more weeks left of homework, projects, and packing those snacks and lunchboxes. Then, it’s long summer days for our children to relax, play, explore new hobbies, and just be kids! While thinking about the approaching summertime and kids having another school year behind them, many families are now looking for possible summer childcare and maybe also thinking ahead to the coming fall school year.
Will you need full-time childcare all week, a half-day program, or are you looking for someplace that allows unique weekly experiences? What is most important for your child and the care you expect for them? Finding the perfect fit for your family’s childcare needs is an important part of summer and school-year planning. With so many options and programs out there, where do you start?
In this month’s guide, you will find the 2025 Childcare and Preschool Guide filled with various options that East Alabama has to offer. From full-time care for infants and toddlers to preschool programs that build foundations and readiness for elementary school, there are so many wonderful possibilities to explore. It’s important to decide what your family’s needs are first and then make a list of what the best childcare environment would be for your children. Then, it’s a matter of researching and visiting the facilities to see if they are what you are searching for. Childcare and preschool programs have grown so much over the last ten years or so.
When I was looking for a preschool for my now 22-year-old, my top needs were safety, type of activities offered, and faith-based. Today, you’ll find that childcare programs offer so much more, like children engaging in daily STEM, computers, and iPad learning programs, hands-on field trip experiences, Bible study and chapel time, and enrichment activities like dance, tumbling, and music classes. Childcare has become so much more than just a place where your children are cared for; it is a place where they also learn in so many ways, grow in confidence, and are given a foundation that is beneficial to their next school steps.
Also included this month, is our feature article, “Why Daycare Is Great For Your Kids”, where the author explores various benefits of having your child experience childcare in their early years. She suggests that childcare gives children a place to develop early social skills and gives a head start on learning and cognitive development. It’s a great reminder that childcare and preschool are more than just care; they are places where learning is fostered and can have a far-reaching effect as children grow into their teen years.
Finding the right program takes a bit more accessing and deciding. From one parent to another, here’s to hoping this month’s magazine is a great first step on your childcare journey.
